Ogiyahagi's Ken Yahagi appears on a lunchtime information program wearing a super rare Japanese-made watch

Rolex, Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Söhne... Ogiyahagi's Yahagi Ken has an impressive watch history, but the watch he's currently wearing is surprisingly a niche, up-and-coming Japanese brand. The watch he showed off on a local Tokai region TV show is an Otsuka Low-Tech No. 7.5, which is also housed at the National Museum of Nature and Science. We take a deep dive into this watch, typical of Yahagi Ken, who delivers his own unique counter-narrative from a standpoint in the comedy world.

Self-proclaimed "Japan's best local TV show." Have you heard of "Ogiyahagi Terrace"?

　The official name is "Ogiyahagi Terrace: Where are you today at 12 o'clock?". It is a local program that is broadcast live from a special studio set up in a different location each week, mainly in the Tokai region. It started on July 7, 2024 as a one-hour program on Tokai Television, which has the concept of "illuminating the Tokai region with joy."

　So far, the show has traveled to local festivals, tourist spots, restaurants, and more, and has aired content that evokes the joy and love of the Tokai region. Occasionally guests are invited, and the show has been expanded several times. Although it is a local broadcast, you can watch a teaser on YouTube, so be sure to check it out.

　On June 10, 2025, the official X program posted a video of the two looking back at the shops they had introduced on the show. The theme of the broadcast was a special feature on popular spots in the Tokai region. Ogiyahagi was shown mentioning Nagoya's signature sweets, "Piyorin," and the kakiage bowl at "Tempura Kakiage Mitsumura."

　In the relaxed atmosphere, the Otsuka Low-Tech stands out on Yahagi Ken's wrist. Even if you're not a watch enthusiast, you'll sense something extraordinary about its unique appearance. Its spiced presence was a perfect match for the atmosphere of the show, which left an impression.

What is Otsuka Lowtec, the one and only company with a strong personality?

　Otsuka Low-Tech is a Japanese watch brand founded in 2012 by car and product designer Jiro Katayama. As the brand name suggests, it was founded in Otsuka, Tokyo. What makes it unique is that it designs everything in-house, from the exterior to the add-on modules for the movement. The base movement is a domestically produced movement made by Miyota, but everything else is designed by Katayama himself.

　Known for being difficult to obtain due to the limited production numbers, Otsuka Low-Tech has long been a popular choice among watch enthusiasts as a unique piece of timepiece. Otsuka Low-Tech first came to the global spotlight at the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix (GPHG) 2024 in November 2024, when Otsuka Low-Tech's "No. 6" was selected as the Grand Prix winner in the Challenge category. The Challenge category is open to watches priced under 3000 Swiss francs (approximately 500,000 yen). This category welcomes nominated models that offer excellent performance at a friendly price point.

　The "7.5" watch worn by Yahagi Ken is a model preserved at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Japan as a historical document of science and technology. This is the first time a consumer wristwatch has been accepted by the museum since the Reiwa era began. The fact that it is also housed at the International Museum of Watchmaking (MIH) in Switzerland shows how unique this piece is.

　This model does not have the usual hands and indexes, but rather a time disc visible through three small windows arranged in a turret on the top of the case. Both the No. 6 and No. 7.5 look unusual for wristwatches, but their appearance, reminiscent of various industrial equipment gauges, gives them a somewhat nostalgic feel. There are plenty of elements that will appeal to fans of mechanics.

　Sales are accepted via a lottery system online. Purchases can be made on the official EC site, with one item per person per application. If you would like to know the schedule for future lottery sales, you can find out through the email newsletter. You will need a Japanese address, but the simple method of obtaining the product is appealing.

I love cars, I love watches, I love people!

　After graduating from high school, Yahagi Ken worked as an office worker for a trading company that handled building maintenance supplies. He had excellent sales performance and even worked in Shanghai, where he was offered the position of Shanghai branch manager, but he left the company after two years. He apparently lied about being able to speak English when he first joined the company, but eventually became fluent in both English and Chinese. He then invited his high school friend Ogi to form a comedy duo, and in 2006 they won second place in the "Toranomon" Speaking King Competition.

From comments made on TV shows such as "Ogiyahagi's Car History," it is known that he has many hobbies, including not only cars but also watches, golf, and billiards. He even once purchased a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow as part of a program segment.

　He seems to be well-liked by fellow comedians in the same agency and with whom he has close ties. Oasis' Yasuko Mitsuura wrote in her column that Ogiyahagi left a very good impression on set and that he is a trustworthy presence as a comedian. Bananaman's Tsutomu Shitara also praised him, saying, "He's a genius at socializing," "When you talk to Yahagi, everyone falls in love with him," and "He has the talent to make everyone want to be liked by Yahagi." Perhaps it is his excellent communication skills, cultivated through his experience overseas and in sales, and his inquisitive nature, born from his wide range of hobbies, that amplify Yahagi Ken's appeal.

Why Yahagi, who has a brilliant watch history, wears Otsuka Low-Tech

　Yahagi Ken is rumored to have an impressive watch history, including an A. Lange & Söhne Ref. 191.032, Rolex Daytona, Explorer II, GMT Master II, and a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Extra Large Ref. 5167A-001.

　In addition to high-end models, he was also seen wearing a G-SHOCK Ref. GA-2110SU-3AJF in the camping program, which matches his outdoor style. He has always loved fashion, and has shared stories of shopping at Comme des Garçons in Aoyama, Tokyo, when he was in his third year of junior high school, and how he admired mod fashion. This shows that he enjoys not just watches alone, but also coordinating them with the occasion.

　His attitude of being flexible and incorporating things he finds interesting and cool and making them his own has not changed even now at the age of 53. It is likely that Otsuka Lowtec has become an item he likes to talk about precisely because he continues to be interested in a wide variety of things.

　Ogiyahagi, a comedy duo that doesn't give off a pushy vibe among comedians, instead offering unique counter-narratives from a more detached perspective, overlaps with Otsuka Low-Tech's presence in the watch industry. Rather than following the conventional path, they find their own unique value from their own unique perspective and express it naturally. It is precisely because of this that Yahagi Ken is able to see the appeal of Otsuka Low-Tech and incorporate it into his own style.